On This Day, August 25: Blondie Bumstead (3 Decades) and The Couple Next Door (Peg Lynch)
This report documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial multi-part narrative arcs, and story synopses for…
August 25 Exhaustive Update
This report documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial multi-part narrative arcs, and story synopses for historical broadcasts transmitting on August 25 across American network, the beloved domestic mishaps of Blondie & Dagwood Bumstead across three network eras (Camel Cigarettes & Super Suds), and the brilliant observational suburban comedy of Peg Lynch & Alan Bunce on The Couple Next Door (1941–1960):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Idea for a Short Story (Peg Lynch & Alan Bunce — CBS)" | CBS (WCBS) 1958-08-25 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Domestic Sitcom |
Peg Lynch (Margaret), Alan Bunce (Vince) | Peg Lynch (Writer), Vince Pelletier | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Marriage", "Americana"] |
"The Couple Next Door, starring Peg Lynch and Alan Bunce!" Vince gets an ambitious idea to write a magazine short story based on neighborhood gossip, but Margaret's constant domestic interruptions derail his literary masterpiece. |
| "English Driving Problems (Peg Lynch & Alan Bunce — CBS)" | CBS (WCBS) 1959-08-25 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Domestic Sitcom |
Peg Lynch (Margaret), Alan Bunce (Vince) | Peg Lynch (Writer), Alan Bunce (Dir.) | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Marriage", "Travel"] |
"The Couple Next Door!" While planning an overseas European vacation, Vince attempts to practice driving on the left-hand side of the road along their quiet suburban residential street, causing utter chaos with the neighbors. |
| "Betsy Wishes Daddy Fame and Fortune (Peg Lynch & Alan Bunce — CBS)" | CBS (WCBS) 1960-08-25 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Domestic Sitcom |
Peg Lynch (Margaret), Alan Bunce (Vince) | Peg Lynch (Writer), Vince Pelletier | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Family", "Children"] |
"The Couple Next Door, created and written by Peg Lynch!" Young daughter Betsy writes an earnest school essay wishing national fame and fortune for her father, prompting Vince to believe he is on the verge of a major promotion at the office. |
| "Dagwood's Lost Skyscraper Blueprints (Penny Singleton & Arthur Lake — Camels)" | CBS (WABC) 1941-08-25 7:30 PM EDST |
R.J. Reynolds Camel Cigarettes & Prince Albert |
Penny Singleton (Blondie), Arthur Lake (Dagwood) | Don Bernard (Dir.), Bill Goodwin | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Marriage", "Family"] |
"Uh-uh-uh... don't touch that dial! It's time for Blondie, brought to you by Camel Cigarettes!" Dagwood Bumstead accidentally leaves Mr. Dithers' million-dollar skyscraper blueprints on a crowded streetcar, forcing Blondie and Dagwood to chase the conductor across town for Camels. |
| "Blondie Impresses a Millionaire Client (Penny Singleton — Super Suds)" | CBS (WABC) 1944-08-25 7:00 PM EWT |
Colgate-Palmolive Super Suds — "Lots More Suds!" |
Penny Singleton (Blondie), Arthur Lake (Dagwood) | Chic Young, Don Bernard, Bill Goodwin | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Marriage", "Family"] |
"Super Suds presents Blondie!" When Mr. Dithers orders Dagwood to entertain a temperamental millionaire client over dinner, Blondie's home cooking and disastrous living room mishaps end up sealing the construction contract for Super Suds. |
| "Dagwood and the County Fair Pig (Penny Singleton & Arthur Lake — Super Suds)" | CBS (WABC) 1946-08-25 7:30 PM EDT |
Colgate-Palmolive Super Suds — "Floods of Suds!" |
Penny Singleton (Blondie), Arthur Lake (Dagwood) | Johnny Greene, Bill Goodwin | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Marriage", "Animals"] |
"Lots more suds with Super Suds! It's Blondie!" Dagwood brings home a squealing prize pig from the county fair to keep as an outdoor pet, but the unruly pig escapes into Mr. Dithers' manicured flower garden with hilarious consequences for Super Suds. |